The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.

Implementation

Tracking throughput is the most important provision in the R2 Standard that demonstrates that the Recycler is actually shipping to qualified downstream vendors. It also demonstrates that the Recycler is processing and not accumulating or mismanaging material (R2:2013 Guidance, section 7.1).

All material under the scope of the R2 certification needs to be tracked both inbound and outbound, at a minimum. Focus materials (FMs) are required to be tracked through final processor. However, non-focus materials only need to be tracked to the first-tier downstream vendor.

There are multiple methods of tracking throughput (R2:2013 Guidance, section 7.3). The best method is dependent on your type of operations:

Recyclers typically track by weight

Refurbishers typically track in units/serial numbers.

Your organization may need a hybrid method that tracks both weight and unit/serial numbers.

If a Recycler generates a mass balance report, the auditor may ask to see the supporting documents that add up to the amounts on the mass balance report. For example if a Recycler shows it shipped out 100,000 lbs. of circuit boards, the auditor will ask to see corresponding bills of lading that add up to 100,000 lbs. All downstream vendors for FMs listed on the bills of lading must match the Downstream Vendors that have been qualified by Provision 5. Trial/Sample loads are not allowed as a method to qualify a downstream, vendors. All downstream vendors must be qualified prior to the first shipment. All Transporters listed on the bills of lading must match the Transporters that have been qualified by Provision 11.

An R2 Certified facility is required to maintain at least 3 years of records tracking its throughput. Records need to be accessible and readily retrievable. A R2 Certified recycler should be able to provide these records, along with a complete list of the names and locations of all downstream vendors that handle focus materials, to their auditor, as well as to any clients at their request.

Summary

Best Practices

Determine the best unit of measure for tracking (For example, weight is a typical tracking measurement for recycling, whereas serial/identification numbers are tracking typical measurement for reusable items)

FAQs

Q: Are mass balance worksheets a requirement for R2 certification?

No, mass balance worksheets are not a mandatory requirement of R2. It is only one method that can be used by recyclers to show how material moves through the facility during a specific period. If a mass balance is used, it should include weights of all materials received and weights of all materials that left the facility and the destination of those materials. The calculation should also account for material diverted for resale/reuse. Material leaving the facility for a specific period should be the control total for identifying and balancing the FM material flow.

Q: Do we need to get Bills of Lading (BOLs) or manifests for all vendors handling FMs below a R2 certified vendor?

The requirement is to get BOLs up to the 1st Tier of Downstream Vendors. It is certainly encouraged by the R2 Standard to get sample BOLs from other tiers to ensure satisfactory due diligence but BOLs and manifests for every shipment of FM across the tiers beyond the 1st tier is not mandatory per the R2 Standard.

The R2 Standard is the leading certification for electronics repair and reuse. As the housing body for R2, SERI maintains the R2 Standard, related documentation, guidance, and facilitates its ongoing development.

SERI works with partners throughout the lifecycle of electronic products to ensure that they are managed responsibly. SERI's programs focus on education, outreach, safety, and international development.

SERI offers a variety of educational and training opportunities for recyclers, as well as opportunities for auditors and consultants. These trainings focus on implementing the R2 Standard, realizing a return on the investment in certification, discussing relevant issues or challenges related to recycling practices, and other topics.